The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-10-19
MopERN DIE MAIDS.
They are JoIy aud Good -Naturad, and
Dress IN Exquisite Taste.

According to the idea of things which
prevailed not so very long ago. the wo-
who did not marry was q blighted
icing. Il did not matter whether she
manned single from choice or neccs-
SITS; tOf since il vas considered q wo-
man., only NANTES. aud unalterable
destiny 20 marry, she must of course, be
regarded as a failure in life il she did
.Ct DO this. And though she NAV have
rafu ed forty offers Of marriage, or have
Lad tile most imperative duties Of any
sort. or developed the most decided tai
en-; for some vocation in life other than
marriage yet neither one nor all OF these
would have been accepted as valid
reason why she should no. follow what
society h-d decided was the only proper
c.a-,a IN lie for her.
Prom Ills condition Of things there
arose ia literature and minds Of the peo-
Vie n genera. the typical odd maid.
sac was always pictured as gaunt,
angular. and toroidd.ng in appearance:
mo.ose and ii.-:empeVed in disposition.
81. became a b..ghied and disappointed
icing; hating youth and pleasure of all
75g-s. w.:L a spec.n. grudge against
~..:eEaG.uC and lovers, since they re-
q eli her o. her own vanished youth
a.l the opportunities Which she never
I.-,, or. having. had neglected.
BI, VIC nave changed all that in these
aver Ia With the education Of wo-
- y aal the broadening of their oppOr-
entities i'll eTc.y way their desl!nies have
y.yaaeneI also. a woman is still, per
maps. expected first TO marry, and it is
f:sl for her Iuat she should, provided
=! marriage can be n happy and sui'a-
Die one, Blu: if from her own choice,
or q necessity arising from q lack Of APP
! probation on the part OF the other and
more stupid sex, she remains at the end
+ hcr dav- What someone calls an 'un-
| claimed blessing she is no longer con-
-.dcr"d, from this circumstance alone,
a failure and an unhappy creature. She
5 no longer doomed to q life OF Deepen
Ieuce in the house Of another, for a
core Of vOcallons are open TO her, in
auy one III which she may win a liveli-
mood or even competence. Consequent
IS she commands respect, and, far from
.c.ng 4 subject Of contempt or pity, she
: more likely the object Of open or Sc
crct envy on the part Of most Of her
married acquairtanccs.
And 70 il; has come about that the
typical Oh maid Of former times has
passed away, and IN the literature Of to-
a,y VIC find new types conforming TO
tua new facts Of tho case and quite diff
i"rcnt from the old. The modern old
ma.d IS not angular and forbidding in
appearances, but plump and pleasing.
sac IS not mOvOSc and ill-tcmpered. but
pig and ~gooi-na,uvci TO an extent that
makes her the best Of comp .Ay. As
sine Ha, never had the absorbing cares
mat come with marriage, and has no
,mily II ,ons and daughters growing
up;,U9ut her to remind her OF the flight
al. Years, she has naturally forgotten 10
grow old, and young people regard her
- one Oh themselves when good times
an .cing planned; while in the matter
Vi. ,crs and love making she has ind
,i. experience which macs her simply
..Ay.c as cuntidante and adviser.
,.t ,.o IS tho repository Of all tho s.
r-..s Ot tA.s sort which exist within tie
l.0E. ~ her acIusitancc. She dresses
.l exquisite taste. she pets a pug dog OF
De "...," cat, y golden beetle, or what
.ur tu.ma. fashion may dictate: il
.i, z.t ~ her family; especially her
loU.g nryhcw,; has hosts Of admirers,
ur.' j. o.s. rc,ion and propricty pcrsoni-
fed; q the guiding spirit in orphan
asT.uGss, husplt'l fairs, associated
charity matters, and other good works,
n.d, IN short, lives out to the end Of her
!a S. = happy, useful, ~wcll-rOundcd OK.
A r-r.-f. ....yvtg..-Is Esl-rTF-y